A Full Day -- Too Full

Touring Can Be A Marathon When You Try To Do It All

August 08, 1999|By Judy Hevrdejs, Tribune Staff Writer.

One word echoes in the memory bank long after taking three children to three museums in one day: "Behave."

Uhh, sorry. That was just the most-common conversation, followed by "I have to go . . . " That is, when the kids and two adults weren't applauding dolphins at the Shedd Aquarium, pondering the stuffed, man-eating lions at the Field Museum or snapping photos of the goofy Dr. Seuss set-up at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Why would any adult stuff so many museums into one day with energetic, inquisitive kids?

Because that is what too many of the 30 million folks who visit Chicago each year try to do.

"Sometimes there's a misconception (among visitors) that they can hit the three museums on the Museum Campus in a day (Field, Shedd and Adler Planetarium). And sometimes, with the Museum of Science and Industry or the Chicago Historical Society, they forget to include travel times," says Heidi Kooi, a spokeswoman with the Chicago Office of Tourism, whose information representatives at the Cultural Center and Water Works coach tourists to tackle museums a day at a time.

Forget advice from the pros.

Dad Toby King, 12-year-old son Olivier, 9-year-old twin daughters Adele and Magali, plus one reporter, felt up to the challenge of a one-day, three-museum marathon. At least the day before.

9:30 a.m.: We are in line for tickets at the Shedd. One minute and five seconds later (per timekeeper/scheduler Olivier), two of the three children dash off -- Adele toward the Caribbean Reef, Magali to a hands-on display.

Olivier is not happy. "Hey, you're supposed to be looking at the exhibits," he shouts.

EIt takes the adults a few minutes to round everyone up before checking out the wacky, colorful fish in the Asia, Africa and Australia exhibit.

10 a.m.: We head to the Oceanarium for a 10:30 a.m. dolphin show. "The dolphins are one of my favorite animals," gushes Magali. We were told to get there early. Thirty minutes of down time is boring -- and the stuff fights are made of. The boys sit apart from the girls, who perch down front and pray they get splashed. They don't. There is a trivia contest. An emcee talks. The dolphins do their thing.

"Too much talking," opines Adele.

"They have to talk for all the people. It was very good," counters Olivier, with a "you are so silly" voice that prompts the first dust-up of the day.

1:10 p.m.: "I'm tired," says Magali, as she drops onto a bench in the Mammals of Asia exhibit.

"We have to focus," commands Olivier.

1:20 p.m.: Bathroom break No. 2: The first floor facilities have a line. A big one. We head downstairs to the newer, tot-friendly facilities. No line. Thank heavens.

1:25 p.m.: The fragrance of McDonald's french fries permeates the air. They get kids' meals. They are quiet. Bliss.

Kid Crisis: The bags don't contain toys. A trip to the counter and Tarzan toys materialize.

2 p.m.: We enter the Underground Adventure, where worms and bugs and ants that are 100 times their normal size send the children into spasms of giggles and screeches.

"It was fun with all the bugs moving and the giant crayfish coming out of the ground," says Adele.

2:30 p.m.: Bathroom break No. 3 -- for the girls. That's followed by a trip to the gift shop.

2:45 p.m.: We're out of the Field and cabbing it to the Museum of Science and Industry.

3 p.m.: It is a free day, and it is steaming. Air-conditioners are getting an assist from fans. All the Omnimax shows are sold out. It is crowded.

The kids don't care. They maneuver through the crowd to check out the baby chicks. They race through the Food for Life exhibit, pushing buttons, turning knobs. They love it.

They go bonkers in the exhibit, "Theme Park: The Art and Science of Universal Studios Islands of Adventures," playing with computer animations, Dr. Seuss figures, movie special effects.

3:30 p.m.: Bathroom break No. 4: Blissfully uneventful.

3:40 p.m.: There are crowds everywhere: At Colleen Moore's Doll House, we can barely get around the display. We scramble over street cars. Check out Chaplain films in a cinema on Yesterday's Main Street.

4:35 p.m.: There is a 25-minute wait at the flight simulator. Forget it. We try to visit the U-505 submarine. Tours are filled.

The adults call it a day and promise ice cream. All the snack shops are closed.

Olivier belly flops across the floor -- in a white T-shirt. He is tired but happy.

Adele wants to visit again. "But I would not bring my brother Olivier," she says. She laughs and then adds, "No, he can come."

Magali wants to do it again tomorrow, with one caveat: Let's do one or two museums at a time.